As a member of the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics’ Class of 2021, Ted Cebulski, a finance major with minors in economics and trust management from Reading, Pennsylvania, has not had the typical student experience at UD due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cebulski, and his entire class, have shown incredible resilience, maturity and spirit while adjusting to the many unexpected changes that they have encountered as students. Each installment of this series will profile an outstanding member of this class, showcasing their achievements, experiences at UD and what it means to be a Blue Hen.
Cebulski was nominated for this series by UD Professor of Finance XioXia Lou, who said, “Ted is brilliant, radiant, resourceful, respectful, self-motivated, organized, hardworking and honest. All around, a great student and person.”
Cebulski was also nominated by UD Associate Professor of Economics Julianna Butler, who said, “Ted was a dedicated student leader of the Economics Club for almost his entire college career, holding the positions of Secretary and VP. His continuous involvement and dedication is especially impressive given that 1.5 years were online due to the pandemic. His energy and enthusiasm were unparalleled, and he brought many fresh ideas to the club. Ted was particularly helpful in recruiting new members and building excitement for new events, such as our guest speaker series with the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank. I wish him the best of luck in all future endeavors!”
In this profile, Cebulski shared his favorite UD memories, how he has changed during his time at UD and his plans following graduation.
Lerner: How have you grown from your freshman year at UD to now?
Cebulski: Over the past three and a half years at UD, my personal and professional growth has been exponential. Throughout my time at UD, I have held many roles across the university including residence life and housing as an RA, career services as an intern and the economics, finance, and business administration departments as a tutor and TA. Most importantly, the faculty have invested countless hours into my success, which allowed me to graduate early and land a role in my dream career field.
Lerner: Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? If so, how did they shape your experience at UD?
Cebulski: Outside of my work, I served as the vice president of the Blue Hen Economics Club and treasurer of UDress Magazine, where I enacted my passions and explored my creative abilities.
Lerner: What does being a “Lifelong Lerner” mean to you?
Cebulski: The term “Lifelong Lerner” captures the efforts that a graduate from the Lerner College takes to embrace, support and inspire future Blue Hens personally and professionally. These actions may include making professional introductions and opening doors for curious students, mentoring students to give them an advantage in the job market and connecting with fellow Blue Hens to enhance the support network.
Lerner: What was the most memorable course that you took at Lerner?
Cebulski: The most memorable course I attended at the Lerner College was Introduction to Microeconomics with Dr. Schubert. During a foundational lecture on the concept of opportunity cost, Dr. Schubert changed my entire perspective, inspiring me to overlook my sunk costs and compare what was in front of me to the next best alternative. This principle was a game changer from that point forward.
Lerner: What was your favorite UD experience?
Cebulski: My favorite experience at UD was the Fall 2021 UDress Fashion Show. After an isolating 18 months, I was thrilled to be surrounded—in person—by my friends and colleagues to celebrate our love of fashion. In the Fall 2021 issue, I helped to leave a legacy in both the articles and images for future Blue Hens to challenge the status quo.
Lerner: What are your plans following graduation?
Cebulski: After graduating in December of 2021, I joined Wilmington Trust as a Client Service Associate in Family Wealth. I am proud of the work I do every day to build trust with clients, while offering a range of personalized wealth planning solutions.